Chief Product Officer

at  WSET

WSET’s purpose is to empower people through inspiring learning experiences all over the world. We offer a comprehensive suite of globally recognised qualifications covering wines, spirits and sake.
We are the world’s leading provider of qualifications in wines, spirits, beer and sake, delivering over 140,000 exams each year to candidates in over 70 countries via our network of Approved Programme Providers (APPs).
WSET is a global organisation and we are proud to have people who work for us all over the world. We have people in Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Singapore and the USA as well as the UK.
The successful applicant will contribute to a culture of integrity, empowerment, dynamism, and inclusivity within WSET.ANY OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT OR YOUR ONGOING EMPLOYMENT IS CONDITIONAL UPON THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF A THOROUGH BACKGROUND CHECK BY AN INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY. NB - IF YOU CURRENTLY WORK FOR ONE OF WSET’S APPS (APPROVED PROGRAMME PROVIDER), YOU MAY NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THIS ROLE SUBJECT TO YOUR FUTURE CAREER PLANS AND THE NATURE OF THAT ROLE. IF YOU WORK FOR AN APP EITHER IN A SELF-EMPLOYED OR EMPLOYED CAPACITY AND WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS YOUR ELIGIBILITY, PLEASE CONTACT THE HIRING MANAGER.
The Chief Product Officer (CPO) is a strategic and high-impact role essential to the future of WSET. The CPO will uphold WSET’s commitment to quality and educational excellence, growing WSET’s global impact through our purpose, ‘Empowering people, through inspiring learning experiences, all over the world’. This role is pivotal in shaping product development, driving growth through new products and revenue streams, and championing our products and role across the drinks industry. WSET’s products are globally recognised for quality, integrity, and industry relevance. As the leader in drinks education, we aim to inspire learners and shape the future of the drinks industry. The CPO will set the product vision, strategy, and execute plans, supporting WSET’s strategic imperative to deliver a student-centred portfolio. Through collaboration with Business Development and Marketing, the CPO will also guide go-to-market efforts, ensuring alignment with our broader mission.

The CPO will play a key role in driving our global impact by leading with:

• Strategic product development
• Leveraging technology to enhance the learner experience and create a more agile development process
• Education product thought leadership to deliver inspiring and empowering learning experiences
• Championing and accelerating change
• Creating an inclusive, innovative culture with a focus on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance)

As a member of the WSET Leadership Team, the CPO shares collective responsibility for realising our Purpose and Strategy.

EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT LEADERSHIP

• Shape and execute the vision for our product strategy, managing creation across formats and languages
• Collaborate with industry thought leaders to continuously advance WSET’s educational product portfolio
• Lead global growth efforts by evolving existing products and introducing new offerings to reinforce WSET’s reputation
• Build a resilient team that embraces change and innovation, especially in product delivery and technology
• Drive a student-centric approach, incorporating feedback to ensure products remain progressive, relevant, and impactful
• Foster a culture open to innovation, development, and constructive feedback

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Extensive experience in education creation, digital transformation and delivery, particularly with technology
• Deep knowledge of education and examining principles, tools, and advancements in teaching
• Strong understanding of governance, legislative, and reporting requirements (Ofqual)
• Data-driven and analytical, with proven project management and commercial acumen
• Effective cross-functional leadership with experience in team-building and leading change initiatives
• Ability to facilitate agile decision-making with an understanding of and experience of implementing product lifecycle models

The CPO will play a key role in driving our global impact by leading with:

• Strategic product development
• Leveraging technology to enhance the learner experience and create a more agile development process
• Education product thought leadership to deliver inspiring and empowering learning experiences
• Championing and accelerating change
• Creating an inclusive, innovative culture with a focus on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance